Paris, 1878

Incomplete (sources).
 
R:
A
set of 3 endgame studies (2 pr.)
B
set of #2 + #3 + #4 + #5 (4 pr. + 2 sp. pr.)
sp. pr.: best single problem, and problem with most variations.
 
J:
A
E. Chamier, Najotte, Robert
B
E. Bertrand, Bertrand jr., B. Gifford, N. Preti, L. Vié.
 
C:
1878-07-15
 
A:
A
— (no pr. awarded; see notes)
 
B
1 pr.   J.Berger (motto: Vertrauen)
2 pr.  F. af Geijersstam (Non cuivis homini contingit adire Corinthum)
3 pr.  S. Loyd (L'homme qui rit)
4 pr. =  C. Bayer (Vive Louise!)
4 pr. =  J. H. Finlinson (Amat victoria curam)
 
( '=' indicates a shared award.)
 
sp pr. best single prb.  V. Nielsen (Baldûr)
sp pr. prb. with most variations  C. C. Moore (Toujours prêt)
 
S:
La Stratégie:
v. 12, i. 4–5 (Apr. 15-May 15 1879), p. 108–129: first report
v. 12, i. 6 (June 1879), p. [166]–171: report; list of participants
v. 12, i. 7 (July 1879), p. [198]–201: revised list of prizes
 
Deutsche Schachzeitung:
v. 33, i. 5 (May, 1878), p. 159–160: requirements & closing date
v. 34, i. 7 (July, 1879), p. [193]–211: translated report & problems; criticism of original report
v. 34, i. 8 (Aug., 1879), p. 242–243: list of competitors; prize list changes
v. 34, i. 9 (Sep., 1879), p. 275–276: final prize list
v. 34, i. 12 (Dec., 1879), p. 365–366: account of analysis in Nordisk Skaktidende.
 
Schallopp: Der Internationale Schachkongress zu Paris im Jahre 1878 (Leipzig: Veit, 1879)
 
Schallopp's book was published shortly after the first problem report and the list of participants appeared in June, 1879; its publication is said to have been delayed to ensure the names of the prize winners were included. However, it does not include the changes in the award list made in the revised report, published in July, nor does it contain the complete sets for the honorary mentions that were affected by this revision. For information related to the problem tourney, this book should thus be used with some care.
 
N:

The special prize for the problem with most variations was donated by C. C. Moore, editor of American Chess Journal. He also won the same prize.

Only 6 contributions were received in the end game section, all of which were either incorrect or too easy. As a result, no prizes were awarded. (Illustrated London News (1878-10-12) reported that a literary tourney on chess was announced instead. The article had to be in French, but could be historical, critical, statistical, analytical, fantastic, or romantic according to the author's preference. The best contribution would be included in the planned congress book.)

In the problem section, 34 sets were sent in. Two were withdrawn by their authors, and one was disqualified for having less than four problems. Another 15 sets were found to be incorrect as a whole, and could not compete for the main prizes, although individual, correct problems did compete for the special prizes.

The first prize report was found to include two anonymous sets (4 pr. Mea culpa, and 4 hm. Respice finem.) This was decided to be against requirements, and the sets were disqualified, along with a third anonymous but unawarded set.

The report also contained three sets by E. Pradignat (1 pr. Aliquando dormitat bonus Homerus, 1 hm. Look on this hill, and 3 hm. Courez du Nord, géants.). This was later decided to be against the wording of the requirements, which allowed only one set per competitor, and the sets consequently disqualified.

The adjustment of the prize list led to all earlier honorary mentions being given prizes instead. No new honorary awards are known to have been given.


No congress book appear to have been published by the arrangers, although one is mentioned to be planned. Schallopp mentions a dispute over publishing rights, and refers to the March issue of La Stratégie for the opinion that the full publishing rights were in the hands of the arrangers only.

 
NB

La Stratégie v. 11 (1878) was not available for reference. All problems (except for the 1 pr. set) were taken from Deutsche Schachzeitung (which reprinted them from the original) as indicated in the source references above.

To-do: locate a copy or scans of v. 11 and use as source and possibly also for additional information.

Prizes

1 Prize: J. Berger

1

#2

2

#3

3

#4

4

#5

2 Prize: F. af Geijersstam

1

#2

2

#3

3

#4

4

#5

3 Prize: S. Loyd

1

#2

2

#3

3

#4

4

#5

4 Prize (shared): C. Bayer

1

#2

2

#3

3

#4

4

#5

4 Prize (shared): J. H. Finlinson

1

#2

2

#3

3

#4

4

#5

Special Prize—Best Problem: V. Nielsen

#5

Special Prize—Problem With Most Variations: C. C. Moore

#5